by mcbiggins on Tue Nov 12, 2002 6:31 pm
The problem is that the Raps still have Hakeem's salary on the ledger sheet, and even giving Clark a bit below fair market value would push them into the dreaded luxury tax zone. Remember, the Raptors are now owned by the Toronto Maple Leafs, a team that has spent the past 35 years designed to make the first round of the playoffs and not go a step further. They are the most profitable team in the NHL, and the "home team" for most of the league's top players, but never go that extra mile to sign a superstar or two to win a championship. The Raptors are definately second fiddle in this city. Do you really expect them to make a push after trading for a aged (that's a step beyond aging, folks) centre and over paying their power forward, his backup, and their 6'5" shooting guard who they have working the point? Keon was great for the highlight reels, but I've been to a couple dozen Raps games now and for every amazing dunk he had he's also dribbled off his own foot twice, passed to the wrong team three times, and scowled at his coach more times than you could imagine.
As you can tell, I am a very digruntled Raptors fan. I'm not a fan of Grunwald, et al. in the Raptors' management, but one good move they did was to not re-sign Dell Curry. I've loved the guy since he was the Hornets sixth man when they had Mugsy, Kendall Gill, LJ, and Zo, but he's over the hill, and now relaxing along side Tim Legler in the Craig Hodges home for guys who can shoot threes and not much else.
FYI, in about 5 years keep an eye out for Dell Curry's son. After warmups and before shoot around, when the court is clear, the little Curry, who looks about 9, would come out and in street clothes hit shots from everywhere. And I mean everywhere. i've seen the kid go 3 for 5 from half court. That kid can shoot!